The Orthodox Peace Fellowship of the Protection of the Mother of God (Netherlands): Jim Forrest, President.

Our Patron Saint isSt. Sava of Serbia
and the
New Martyr
Hieromonk Stefan,
of Kosovo, Serbia

Most Beloved Friends In Christ Our Lord,

Always abiding with the love of our Lord God Jesus Christ, and through
the prayers of St. Sava of Serbia, the Decani Monastery Relief Fund,
was founded in October 1998, and is a non profit and tax deductible
charitable organization, created to assist in humanitarian aide to the
Serbian Orthodox Church and it's faithful who are in the need of further
assistance and for those who suffer with great hardship today within the
region of Kosovo, Yugoslavia.

This Christian outreach provides assistance by the loving monks of the
Decani Monastery who provides further help to the citizens who are in desperate
need for wood (winter months in Kosovo begin in November), blankets, shelter
(including tents), food, water, and further medical attention.

Since the foundation of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund and
the end of the war in Kosovo, the situation has become grave and the current
reports which are truthful are horrific as the Serbian Orthodox Church
and it's faithful have suffered a great deal. Hardship is at the
door and in the hearts of the Serbian Orthodox people. I would like to
humbly share this report from His Grace Bishop Artemije who resigned on September 22, 1999, from the
Kosovo Transitional Council, protesting the failure of KFOR forces to protect
the Serbian minority and to safeguard churches and monasteries, as well
as individual homes, farms, and places of business, many of which have
been destroyed since the arrival of KFOR troops. He said that the
multi-ethnic concept in Kosovo has failed.

"Three months of 'peace' have been catastrophic for Serbs in the province,"
he said (Bishop Artemije). "Three fourths of this diocese has already
been destroyed, with 250,000 Serbs driven from Kosovo plus 20,000 to 30,000
other non-Albanians." He estimated that between 80,000 to 100,000
Orthodox Serbs remain in three enclaves. More than 350 killed (Editors
notes: from a 17 year old boy to an 82 year old blind man), 450 have
been abducted, thousands of Serb houses have been burned or looted, and
more than 65 churches and monasteries destroyed, all despite the presence
of 50,000 international peace forces. Serbs have been practically
expelled from all multi-ethnic areas and forced onto reservations and ghettoes.
They are denied basic human rights and freedom of movement, education,
work and medial protection."

Serbian nuns are being raped, and Serbian priests are being beaten and
murdered. This particular web site is in loving memory of Hieromonk
(Priestmonk) Stefan and those with him thrown down a well near Istok, this
happened in late September, 1999. Holy New Martyr Hieromonk Stefan,
pray unto God for us! Holy New Martyrs of Serbia, pray unto God for
us!

One main factor has to be made clear! The Serbian Orthodox Church
has repeatedly called for the resignation of Milosevic before the war,
during the war, and after the war!

The Serbian Orthodox Church and especially the Decani Monastery has
helped and continue to assist all those in desperate need. The Decani
Monastery in itself still opens it's doors to assist anyone (no matter
what ethnic background) who needs help or assistance, and as well provides
this humanitarian assistance throughout the land of Kosovo. The question
now remains who is helping the Serbian people who never supported the present
government in the first place? What type of assistance is being provided
to restore the destroyed Churches and Monasteries? What type of assistance
is being provided to feed those who are hungry, and cold?

One report
(which is truthful) is that a Serbian Orthodox widowed women with children
crossed her street from her broken destroyed home to ask for food from
a distribution center, and food was denied to her because she was Serbian!
Serbian citizens are asked to leave the market places because they are
Serbian? Medical assistance is also being denied because one is Serbian!
We must ask the question about the elderly? Who are assisting them in their
desperate needs? What has become of the children and where do they
go to school? The youth are denied attendance at the local schools
and University? Other non Serbian youth from Kosovo are sent an invitation
to attend University in other countries! What has been done
about the missing Serbian people estimated more than 450 at this time?
Where are the voices and the human concern in this regards?

In the meantime the Decani Monastery Relief Fund continues onward in
it's God loving humanitarian concerns for all the suffering souls in
Kosovo to assist as much as possible in their exhausted love for those
who are in desperate need for further assistance. As we read the reports
of the amount of loving donations made on behalf of many kind people across
the world please kindly consider that these donations disappear in a matter
of time and then the funds are depleted once again. So much to do
and so many needs! Can you please help with a loving donation for
this Fund?

Please kindly look deep in your hearts and reach out to assist the Decani
Monastery Relief Fund and let us help all of those who are asking for not
only our love, but our support as well. Pray for the people in Kosovo,
and appeal please for peace and good will among all men in this region.
Let us as God loving Christians reach out in concern for all who live in
this vast and blessed land, in this creation of our Lord God. Finally
let us who eat daily, dress warmly, and live in a warm home, put aside
something toward a donation to help the Decani Monastery Relief Fund continue
on with its outreach program and help all who are crying out for help!
Pray, pray, and please pray! Let us all reach out and help our brothers
and sisters who are in a crisis, and are in desperate need.

Humbly With The Love Of Christ Our Lord,
+ Reverend Presbyter Demetrios SerfesPresident Of The Decani Monastery Relief Fund
Who prays for you and with you!
4 November 1999

Decani Monastery Relief Fund Report
From Veljko Sikirica
August, September And October 1999

224

James M. Stormes

225

Decerbo Michael

226

St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church

227

David Zethmayr (please kindly note that David
made several donations)

228

David Zethmayr

229

Dragor and Marija Obradovic

230

Marko Kerkez

231

David Zethmayr

232

Anonymous

233

Mattheos Koffas

234

Darrell and Patricia Garrett

235

David Zethmayr

236

David Zethmayr

237

David Zethmayr

238

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Total for August, September and October: $10,264.63

Previous Balance before August: $37,752.20

Grand Total: $48,016.83

We would humbly like to thank the Benevolence Organization of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia for their most kind and loving donation,
and all those who kindly assisted in giving donations for the Decani Monastery
Relief Fund. We can also note that one particular person's name was repeated
on several occasions, and this is due to the fact that he sent several
donations during the course of three months. God Bless him, and may our
Lord God Bless you all who have made a loving donation.

We are most pleased to inform you that the Decani Monastery Relief Fund
did pay for the open heart surgery for the young three year old Balsa Vukicevic
in the amount of $20,711.60 while the transportation and other accommodation
expenses for him and his parents were also donated from other sources.
Thank you all for this God loving effort to help Balsa as your loving donations
are multiplied and blessed.

Once again we send our humble deep gratitude in the name of the families
and refugees in Kosovo who are currently benefiting from your loving donations,
and let us repeat in particular little Balsa Vukicevic and family.

We not only give you all humble thanks, but we also give thanks to our
Lord God for your great Christian love for the Decani Monastery Relief
Fund! Hieromonk Sava and Hieromonk Theodosius want to assure everyone
of you that the Decani Monastery remembers you most humbly in prayer.
All of the monks continue onward in their assistance for the great needs
of both the little ones, the sick, the suffering, the destitute, and the
elderly. All souls that knock at the door are helped at the Decani
Monastery not one is turned away! All funds are received by Hieromonk
Sava and he himself has records in this regards as well, he has your name
in his heart and in loving prayer.

If you would like to send a donation please send to the following:

Decani Monastery Relief Fund

C/O Veljko Skirica

4 West Hill Street

Baltimore, MD. 21230

Thank You! We will always be with you in God loving prayer!

Please humbly remember to pray for those who are suffering and in desperate
need.

God Love And Bless You Always!

With The Love of Christ Our Lord,
And Through The Prayers Of St. Sava, And New Priest Martyr Stefan,
Humbly Submitted on November 4, 1999